Conclusions: tOSU's passing attack is a bit more efficient than it seems, but they are a run heavy offense. tOSU's defense is very strong against the run, but very susceptible to the pass. At least these are the indications from the the stats alone. Watching the games, it is pretty clear that the Buckeyes D, while it is good against the run in general, is much better against the run against Pro Set/running formation teams. Similarly, the secondary is weak in the middle and strong on the outside. More specifically, the Buckeyes struggle against formations that put the safeties in coverage against WRs. This week the Buckeyes safeties will see more TEs which can burn you, but I don't imagine they will be seeing a lot of trips to the boundary. Wisconsin's O lines up nicely for the Buckeyes.

Wisco's D is better than you would think by the numbers. Something that is not quite as obvious from these limited stats is that Wisco runs the ball 3X for every pass, and the passing game is even more limited with their QB making only his second start this week. tOSU's offense is a little different than just about everything the badgers have played this year... how many running spread offenses with highly mobile QBs are out there? Well fortunately the Badgers played one, Nebraska. The personnel are obviously different, but the point remains the same.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Wisky's been coming on lately but I think that's more a product of the shittiness of the Big Ten.

OSU 24Wisconsin 16

Playing here is the closest thing to heaven. Really, I mean it's amazing to be in a place where the fans truly cherish their football team and stick behind them win or lose. We players love them, too. I feel a sense of accomplishment playing here, we are a special breed of football players with a great opportunity." ~ tOSU LB Brian Rolle

Worth noting that OSU shut down Montee Ball and the Wisky running attack last year to the tune of 89 yards for the game. Ball had 85 on 17 carries, but 40 of it was on one draw play late in the game. And that was with a better O-line that later put 3 seniors into the NFL. OSU got hurt by Russell Wilson...253 yds, 3 TD...and as they say, Russell Wilson ain't walking through that door tomorrow. The preview just went up on the front page, but I'm picking the Bucks in a close game...mostly because I think they win the line-of-scrimmage battle on both sides of the ball....and because OSU has a better quarterback.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

With Sabino back starting at the Sam, and Boren established now in the middle....and Shazier a stud at Will...one hopes Klein doesn't see the field...unless of course you mean he's going to make a spectacular special teams play. That would be cool with me.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

With Sabino back starting at the Sam, and Boren established now in the middle....and Shazier a stud at Will...one hopes Klein doesn't see the field...unless of course you mean he's going to make a spectacular special teams play. That would be cool with me.

Ugh... you mentioned special teams. Wonder if the Buckeyes adventures (both good and bad) continue in that regard.

The kickoff coverage has actually been pretty good, with the one exception vs Purdue, when two blatant holds went uncalled and it went for a TD down the sideline.

The punt team thing just blows my mind though. I will never understand the formation with wide line splits that allows rushers to come unblocked from the middle of the formation. If you set up tight, the only way a guy can come untouched is from the outside, and at least you know where he's coming from, and you have your deep protect people ready for them, while your punter steps up in the "pocket". They made that shift last year under Fickell and never went back to the old, Tressel (successful) way. Every NFL team does it approx the same way, and you hardly ever see a punt block in the NFL.

Read somewhere recently that at one point in his decade here Tressel's teams went seven straight years without having a punt blocked. Meyer's team has had three (four?) blocked this year.

Buchanan has been fairly meh this year, although his return against yardage numbers are pretty good, and Basil has only about (not looking it up) about 6-7 attempts all year, a testament to the offense's red zone efficiency.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

OK, after I wrote that last post I got wondering about the TD to FG ratio from last year to this year.

In 2011 OSU attempted 19 field goals in 13 games, and Basil made 16 of 19.

This year they have attempted six in 10 games, making four. Which leaves touchdowns....

Everyone knows the offense sucked last year, but I still was surprised a bit by these totals:

Last year OSU scored 39 TD's in 13 games. This year they have already scored 55 TD's in the first 10 games.

FWIW

Edit: That's ALL TD's by the way, not offensive TD's...this year they have at least four defensive or ST touchdowns I can think of off the top of my head (Roby, Shazier pick sixes, and I think two punt block TD's)

Edit: Make it five...Corey Brown 76-yd punt return TD

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

I never put a number to my prediction.... I think mid 30s to hig teens. 35-17.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

This team is not losing this year. Urban Meyer on a bye week vs Bret Effing Bielema. Braxton the play maker, he will be the difference as usual. DL is beastly and playing inspired. Bucks play their best against the best with Urban at the helm. Statement game.

Buckeyes comfortably. One of my definite bets tomorrow. In the Furls Zone ... 37-20 I will say.

"It's like dating a woman who hates you so much she will never break up with you, even if you burn down the house every single autumn." ~ Chuck Klosterman on Browns fans relationship with the Browns

swerb wrote:This team is not losing this year. Urban Meyer on a bye week vs Bret Effing Bielema. Braxton the play maker, he will be the difference as usual. DL is beastly and playing inspired. Bucks play their best against the best with Urban at the helm. Statement game.

Buckeyes comfortably. One of my definite bets tomorrow. In the Furls Zone ... 37-20 I will say.

I'm on the money-line vs. Bielama and a third string QB at the helm of a one-dimensional squad.

I don't get the line on this game. I feel like I must be missing something. Buckeyes have a huge fan base (largest?), that you usually means bloated lines the other way. Why so much money on a one dimensional wisco team with a 3rd string QB?

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

That was 6 if Stoneburner can hold on to it. Man that hurts, but after the 2 Wisco drops I can't complain much.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Shazier is lucky he didn't get flagged, but in his defense, Ball was going to gain about 3 on that. Its not like it was going to go the distance. Wisco really doesn't scare me on 3rd and 9. I think they are going to really have to stay ahead of the downs, and you have to think that if they keep relying on the QB to move the ball he throw some picks. If he throws 30 times today and ends up with less than 2 INTs I will be impressed.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Miller is fucking strong. He doesn't just break DB tackles, he breaks LB tackles, and DL tackles. He does stuff running the ball that you only see in Madden.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Bucks OL is winning upfront. I think they should go power running game until Wisco shows they can stop it.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

John Simon playing out of his mind. Sacks are going to be huge because Wisco will have trouble playing from behind the chains.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

That was easy. I think they should be giving to Hyde and Smith more today. Wisco really hasn't done much against the OSU designed RB runs. Pepper that with some short/intermediate possession passing and they should be able to move the ball all game. Nothing scary about this Wisco D.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

DL got manhandled that entire series. You have to admire how well coached the Wisco OL are every year.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

OK, Bucks need to close the half here with 7 and then open the next half with 7 more!

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

The Buckeyes offense has really gone to shit in the second half. The option game is just not working for any of the plays, inverted veer, IZR, etc. The best success has come from just sending Hyde to hit the hole hard. Got a bad feeling about this game now.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Is it just me or does it seem like the announcers have bucky badger underoos on?

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.